As I gulp and humble myself to admitting that I am so behind in my
I feel the need to justify, justify, justify. Nate says it is what I do best. I got, like,
for Christmas and now I just stare longingly at my new stack of books. Some days I want to chuck the reading plan and dig in to something new. But, I am NOT a
I will get back on track. It isn't
that I am reading more than one day's plan when I sit down in the morning. (I'm 37 chapters behind, but who's counting?) I wish that I could gather my thoughts and post touching blogs every time I study
but who am I kidding? I am no
I am Joni, mother of two, part time bookstore employee, seamstress, wifey, chef, laundress, and chauffeur. I love the time I have
and He hears my earnest prayers. I desire to continue my plan in faith, knowing that He who's begun the good work in me will help me to complete it.
I pray, Oh God, that reading your Word every day will never, EVER become a burden...
but a Gift.
6 comments:
Thanks, Joni. I love your blog, and this one was very dear to my heart. I started a one year Bible this year, too, and can I just confess that it sometimes feels like slogging thru the Old Testament? My prayer is that I will glean one truth each day, and so far God has been sooooo faithful! I am starting to look forward to it each morning, because I KNOW God will show me something new!
Blessings,
Lisa
Great post:) And amen.
So true! So blessed we are to be able to openly read and study His Word!
Love how you put this post together!
I like your new header too!
And now I'm wanting to read several of the books you posted!
And get the study on James...
Joni,
You are making a wonderful effort in pursuing God, and though you are "behind" according to a specific plan, the key now is not to stop.I want to encourage you because I have stopped far too many times in my desire to read through the scriptures. Yet I have succeeded too! Keep on keeping on!
I thought you might like to read what Pastor Terry wrote one time about studying scripture:
"A Desire to Learn
The word ‘study’ means to make haste in giving great effort.
Proverbs 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Like most things in life, we will get from the Bible what we put into it. The Spirit is willing to take us as deep as we want to go.
Example – A man in Kansas City was severely injured in an explosion. The victim’s face was badly disfigured, and he lost his eyesight as well as both hands. He was just a new Christian, and one of his greatest disappointments was that he could no longer read the Bible. Then he heard about a lady in England who read Braille with her lips. Hoping to do the same, he sent for some books of the Bible in Braille. Much to his dismay, however, he discovered that the nerve endings in his lips had been destroyed by the explosion. One day, as he brought one of the Braille pages to his lips, his tongue happened to touch a few of the raised characters and he could feel them. Like a flash he thought, I can read the Bible using my tongue. At the time Robert Sumner wrote his book, the man had “read” through the entire Bible four times. The Wonders of the Word of God, by Robert L. Sumner."
Now how is that for inspiration. A never give up attitude is what I want!
Love you, Mimi
Ok - So, I'm WAAAAAYYYY behind too! I feel a Bible reading marathon coming sometime soon. I am determined not to give up. I am determined to finish this. I'm thinking about maybe just picking up where I left off instead of trying to play catch up. I do seem to get a lot more out of it when it's a smaller "bite" to digest. Thoughts?
Well.........concerning a lengthy time devoted to reading scripture... I believe we would find good company. At least I have always felt encouraged by Ezra in Nehemiah 8.
Nehemiah 8:2 "So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law."
Then I read somewhere that from this time forward the Israelites were known as the "People of the Book". Wow...
on your mark...get set....
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